Shaibu, Nwifuru Meet in Abuja, Push for Expanded Military–State Cooperation

By Zainab Uzomah

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has restated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to supporting civil authorities in strengthening internal security and expanding manpower development across the country.

He gave the assurance on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja. According to a statement signed by Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Army Chief praised the state government for its sustained cooperation with the military.

Shaibu said the newly established Nigerian Army Depot in Ebonyi would boost training capacity and operational effectiveness. He added that the passing-out ceremony for the first batch of recruits trained at the depot would be held in Abakaliki, underscoring the state’s growing strategic relevance to the Army. He urged the governor to intensify public sensitisation efforts and encourage citizens to provide credible intelligence to security agencies. Shaibu also appealed for greater mobilisation of youths across the South-East to join the Army.

Governor Nwifuru congratulated the Army Chief on his appointment and commended the military’s continued support to security operations in Ebonyi. He said the establishment of the Army Depot had improved security readiness and contributed to the state’s relative stability, noting that Ebonyi had been free from kidnapping incidents and “sit-at-home” disruptions.

The governor also called for the speedy completion of the Army Reference Hospital in Abakaliki, saying the facility would serve the wider South-East and South-South regions. He restated his administration’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Nigerian Army in the pursuit of peace and development.